Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
159. The Three Levels of Nianfo ( Buddha-Recitation) (continued)
Master Honen, founder of the Japanese Pure Land School (Jodo-Shu), authored a foundational text entitled “Senchaku Hongan Nembutsu Shu” (Collection on the Nembutsu Chosen in the Fundamental Vow) , structured in sixteen chapters. The title of this book serves as the central theme and framework for the entire work. In fact, the entire meaning of the sixteen chapters is encapsulated in the six characters of the title, “ The Nembutsu Chosen in the Fundamental Vow.” This title, in turn, reflects the three levels of Nembutsu / Nianfo / Amitabha-recitation.
A Detailed Explanation of the Three Levels:
The book title “ The Nembutsu / Nianfo Chosen in the Fundamental Vow ” contains three levels of meaning; but, ultimately conveys a single unified intention.
(1) Nianfo (Amitabha-recitation)
This is the general practice of reciting Amitabha Buddha’s name without distinguishing whether it accords with his Primal Vow or not. It does this without analyzing whether it contains a right practice (正行), miscellaneous practices (雜 行), assisting karma (助業), or karma of assurance (定業). It is considered one, followed by a myriad of practices. (萬行隨一).
This understanding of Nianfo was established by various Buddhist masters such as Master Jingying, Tiantai Zhiyi, and later included by other schools after the Song dynasty. This is called the conventional or general understanding of Nianfo.
(2) Fundamental Vow Nianfo
At this level, one clearly distinguishes between what is or is not based on Amitabha's Fundamental Vow. Among the many practices, one discerns between the right practice and the miscellaneous practices (正行與雜行), and within the right practice, further differentiates between assisting karma and karma of assurance (助業與定業).
The karma of assurance —exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha in accord with Amitabha’s 18th (Fundamental) Vow—is called “Fundamental Vow Nianfo.” This is the assured cause of rebirth; so, one abandons all miscellaneous practices and exclusively recites Nianfo.
This meaning of "Fundamental Vow Nianfo" was established by Master Shandao, following the Pure Land lineage from Tanluan and Daochuo. This meaning runs throughout all sixteen chapters of Honen’s Senchaku Hongan Nembutsu Shu.
(to be continued tomorrow)
159 三重念佛 (續)
日本淨土宗的開宗祖師法然上人寫了一本開宗立教的根本教典，名為《選 擇本願念佛集》，分為十六章。書名就是整部書的總標、大綱要，本集十六章
之綱要全部攝在「選擇本願念佛」之六字書名，而這書名就顯示出三層次的念 佛。
本集書名，有三重義；義雖三重，總成一意。
一、念佛。不知本願、非本願，未分別正、雜、助、定，屬萬行隨一之念佛， 這是諸師（淨影、天臺，乃至宋朝以後，諸宗融合之念佛）所立之「念佛」之義， 亦即通途之念佛。
二、本願念佛。明辨本願、非本願，於萬行中分別正行、雜行（二行），於正 行中細判助業、定業（二業）。其正定業，正是隨順彌陀本願之「稱名念佛」，故 名「本願念佛」；是決定往生之業，故止雜行，專行念佛。這是善導大師傳自曇 鸞、道綽所立之「本願念佛」之義，而此本願念佛之義貫串本集十六章。
Namo Amituofo!
